Comcast Introduces Voice-Controlled TV Remote

X1 Viewers Can Search, Set Recordings and Get Recommendations with
Natural Speech

May 05, 2015 11:52 AM Eastern Daylight Time

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Comcast today announced the consumer launch of its new remote control
that allows customers to navigate tens of thousands of shows and movies
on the X1 platform with their voice. The new Xfinity
remote with voice control lets viewers search for networks, shows
and movies; set DVR recordings; get recommendations; navigate Xfinity On
Demand and more.

“Say it and see it. It’s that simple,” said Sree Kotay, Comcast Cable’s
Chief Software Architect. “We want viewers to get to the shows and
movies they love quickly, and we’ve built a remote control that’s smart,
fast and intuitive. You don’t have to learn a new language or speak like
a robot. Just press the blue button, say what you want to watch and it
appears on screen. It’s easy, just like watching TV should be.”

The Xfinity Remote with voice control recognizes thousands of common
commands including things like:

Changing the channel: “Watch ESPN”

Searching for movies or shows: “The Walking Dead”

Browsing Xfinity On Demand: “Show me kids movies”

Setting a recording: “Record Saturday Night Live”

Finding sports teams, games and events: “When do the Phillies play?”

Getting recommendations or seeing what’s popular on TV right now:
“What’s trending?”

The remote even recognizes hundreds of popular movie quotes. As an
example, saying “Life is like a box of chocolates” will find the movie Forrest
Gump.

The voice remote is available to all eligible X1 customers. New
customers will get the remote during their installation and existing
customers can either go to an Xfinity Store to pick one up for free or
order online at xfinity.com/voiceremote
(shipping & handling charges may apply).

In addition to voice search, the new remote is backlit for nighttime
viewing and uses radio frequency (RF4CE) transmission that lets users
point anywhere when channel surfing and store their X1 set-top box in a
cabinet or another room. It also is more ergonomic with contours that
comfortably fit in the viewer’s hand. The setup is simple, and X1
customers can program it to control their TV and AV receiver or sound
bar in just
a few easy steps.

From a technology perspective, the remote records sound from a
microphone when the Mic button is held down and then uses
voice-over-RF4CE™ ZigBee® technology
to compress and transmit that recording over a low bandwidth link to the
X1 platform. Using natural language processing (NLP) coupled with
advanced entertainment metadata and relevancy algorithms, X1 easily gets
you to what you want.

This device is also another example of Comcast’s commitment to making
its products and services more
accessible. The company recently launched the industry’s first “talking
guide” for customers with a visual disability, and with the
availability of this new remote, Comcast has become the only company to
elegantly combine “voice in” and “voice out” in one entertainment
experience.

“Voice control is a solution for customers with a visual disability or a
physical challenge like arthritis,” said Tom Wlodkowski, Vice President
of Audience, Comcast, who focuses on the usability of the company’s
products and services by people with disabilities. “But it’s also
empowering for kids, seniors or anyone else who wants a new and easier
way to discover content. Voice search is the great equalizer and a
terrific complement to our talking guide.”

About Comcast Cable:

Comcast Cable is the nation's largest video, high-speed Internet and
phone provider to residential customers under the XFINITY brand and also
provides these services to businesses. Comcast has invested in
technology to build an advanced network that delivers among the fastest
broadband speeds, and brings customers personalized video,
communications and home management offerings. Comcast Corporation
(Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) is a global media and technology company. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com
for more information.